Dual Sporting The Other Way....

[hppants]

I got an invite to go bike camping with my friends Loki and Natehawk750. I was interested, but it seems they wanted to go trail riding, and while the FJR is a great bike, if it has one pronounced weakness, I would have to say its trail riding. I was relieved to learn that Nate had an extra dirt bike for me to use, so I was able to “Dual Sport with Dual Bikes”

We camped at the Kistachie National Forest, Camp Claiborne site:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kisatchie/recreation/horseriding-camping/recarea/?recid=34647&actid=104

Although primitive, this campground is large and very accommodating to dirt bikers and ATVers. I spent Friday night, while Loki, Nate, and his 6-year old son Isaiah spent Saturday night as well.

The weather was fantastic, especially for late January – about 50 degrees at first light, warming up to the mid-70s during the day. We did watch a group of showers to our east on Saturday, but they never bothered us.

All had a blast and as expected, we found some adventure. Hope you enjoy the pics.

I left Lafayette at about 2:00 pm under partly cloudy skies. With only 75 miles to go, I decided to stretch it to around 120 by taking the roads less traveled. Wound up riding the whole thing straight, so no pics on the ride up. Once I got to the campground, Loki helped me pitch my tent under the piney woods.

I noticed Loki was messing with something on his bike

He had some kind of fuel line problem, but he switched the fuel cap breather tube and it was good as new.

Darkness falls fast this time of year, and with plenty of firewood gathered, we got the campfire started.

Nothing goes better with firewood than fire water.



He loves his KTM mini-bike.

Loki’s XT225 (foreground) is very nice, especially good for the shorter rider as this one offers good ground clearance without an overly tall stance. In the background is Nate’s DR400. This is a very nice dual sport, but way more power than my inexperience can handle in the woods.

Nate’s girlfriend was nice enough to let me ride her Xl-100. Just right for Pants to putt putt around the woods.

We had fun playing around in this large sand pit near the campground

https://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af358/hppants/kistachiedualsport16.jpg[/img]

Isaiah is having a ball riding around on his mini-bike.

Right behind you buddy.

Loki is catching air with the baby Honda.

Here comes Nate on the big DR

Then we hit the trail and decided to run a 15-20 mile loop through the woods.

https://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af358/hppants/kistachiedualsport21.jpg[/img]

Plenty of forest service roads in this area

I only fell once when my front wheel washed out from under me. Nate did the same thing, so I didn’t feel too bad. No harm, no foul

There’s a short loop trail near the campground that Isaiah enjoyed.

By now it’s mid-afternoon and I promised my wife I’d be home in time to take her out to eat. So I packed up and headed home. This time, I couldn’t resist a 5-minute stop to enjoy the green rye grass along the country side.

I made it home safe, but VERY SORE!! Wow – that dirt bike riding is a lot of work.

But it’s also a lot of fun.

 

[hppants]

Edit - some of the pictures didn't show on the ride report. I did the "preview post", then ignore the "you can't bla bla bla" error, and clicked post anyway - thing.

I'll do some searching on how to fix this.

Mods/Admins: Respectfully, can we please fix this? Why should the FJR forum have to march to a different tune than every other forum known to exist in the computerized world? The PICTURE_URL_LINK string is the world-wide standard, AFAIK. It's frustrating. There, I'm done venting.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

Nice report and pictures!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[not2shabby]

Nice! I can't wait to get my project DR350 out it in the woods! Just hope I don't do anything too stupid...

 

[UberKul]

Fun report and thanks for sharing. You guys do meal time right!

 

[kamal]

Thanks for that. Helps to keep me sane when still looking at a foot of snow in my yard.

Al

 

[johnny80s]

Looks like fun! I like dirt biking.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Having never been off road (on a dirt bike )...this was a real interesting thread. Thanks for sharing...

I'm sure if I tried to start doing that I would be sore or injured...although it looks like great fun. I'll need to con one of my FJR dual sport buddies into letting me wreck try their beatup second hand low cc bike sometime.

 

[Fontanaman]

Nice and thanks for posting. It almost makes me want to get a dirt bike again.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Thanks for taking us along 'pants.

Lived on dirt bikes when I grew up and I often think of a dual sport now...the mind is willing but the body isn't!

--G

 

[Fontanaman]

Thanks for taking us along 'pants.
Lived on dirt bikes when I grew up and I often think of a dual sport now...the mind is willing but the body isn't!

--G

Calling ya on this on --G. If time/money was no object both of us would have a bike capable of doing the Continental Divide this year. You know it is true.....

 

[hppants]

Thanks for reading my report, and your warm replies.

Can anyone please tell me what to do so that you can see ALL of my pictures? Maybe it's just my computer - can ya'll see all of the pics?

Wheaton/Escape - like many, I started off in the dirt, back when Christ was a Corporal. It's not what I remember, though. Much more rigorous. I ain't joking - on Sunday morning, I felt like somebody kicked the crap out of me. Granted, even putt putt-ing around, I was bottoming out that little XL100 - I looked like some kind of circus freak. More suspension would help. But if I ever get a dual sport, I think it will be more for riding forest service roads and less for woods trail riding.

Also worth mentioning - that was a good kid. It's been quite a while since I've dealt with a small kid like that. But for 6-years old, he was very well mannered and patient, yet he had plenty of fun and seemed very happy. His Dad (and Mom) deserve a big "atta-boy".

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Good report Pants. You and I both have a need for a good dual sport and I could most definitely enjoy some of that kind of riding. I need the exercise as well. Since I know you are over 6 ft. that little Honda must have been a little snug for you.

I am glad to hear that someone is doing well by their child. My wife and I thought we might go to prison before we were able to get our son to consistently use "Ma'am" and "Sir". Teaching them to be polite and courteous can be hard, but it is worth the effort. If I could just get him interested in his little 4-wheeler or a dirtbike, I think my entire life would improve.

No, I don't see all of your pics either.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Odd...I'm seeing all the pics, no issues at all with Firefox.

--G

 

[ahchiu]

Great RR and pictures, I would love to get a Dual Sport Bike if I had more room in the garage and a fatter wallet.

 

[FJRBandit]

...... But if I ever get a dual sport, I think it will be more for riding forest service roads and less for woods trail riding.

One word --- V-strom!!!

 

[gixxerjasen]

If you look at your code, it's a huge mess of url's and img's. The board does support standard ubb code with the img tabs. Here's some fixed.

If you intend to not use the little image buttons to insert your code and code it yourself (as I do) then I highly recommend flipping the switch on the upper left corner.

Looks like a great time!